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Jonathan Siegrist Establishes 5.14 Testpiece at Quality Arizona Crag

Jonathan Siegrist has put up two stellar additions to the once-obscure Lime Kiln Canyon, Arizona: the testpiece

Air France (5.14a) and Voyager One (5.13a/b).

When asked by Rock and Ice if he planned to put up more routes in the canyon, Siegrist, who climbed the routes last week and has now left the area, responded, “Yeah, those routes both turned out really well. And it's cool to see a wave of enthusiasm for the zone right now.”

He added, “I would like to explore the potential for some more enormous pitches at some point next winter.” His route Voyager One is 165 feet long.

Mountain Project lists a total of 11 routes in this limestone area. Todd Perkins has been a leading developer, putting up the four-star Magnum Opus (variously listed as 5.13d and 5.14a), among many others.

Siegrist wrote on his blog of Air France, “Truly one of the highest quality pieces of stone I’ve ever touched and certainly ever put bolts in."

An avid route developer, Siegrist explained his philosophy on bolting and establishing climbs to Rock and Ice.

“I think that what’s most important is to try your best to respect and abide by the local ethics—so naturally the way you bolt and develop routes will change from place to place," he wrote in an e-mail.

"I also personally only try to do routes or develop areas that people will actually want to climb and visit. Accessibility, quality and proximity play a big role in my stoke.”

While in Lime Kiln Canyon, Siegrist spent some time filming with Outside TV, where he was shot developing Voyager One (5.13a/b).

"The piece is about my stoke for route development and it's got some incredible drone footage of Voyager One," he wrote. "Should be cool!”

Siegrist is soon heading to Southern France to climb in the Verdon Gorge and elsewhere for several months.

When asked if he will develop routes in France, he says he is simply there to “experience the wealth of quality that already exists.”

Check out this great athlete profile of Siegrist by 3 Strings Media.

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